Decide on a confinement nanny, and sort her work permit early
A confinement nanny lives in for the first weeks after the birth, cooks, and looks after the baby at night. It is a Singapore institution and expat families use it too. Checked against mom.gov.sg on 22 September 2026.
- Who it applies to
- Everyone having a baby in Singapore
- On your timeline
- Paperbump schedules this usually between week 28 and week 30 of the pregnancy
- Official source
- mom.gov.sg
- Last checked
- 22 September 2026
What else to know
The nanny needs a Work Permit which you, as the employer, apply for: it costs S$35, you can apply from 4 weeks before the due date and up to 16 weeks after the birth, and the permit runs for at most 16 weeks from the date of birth. The levy is S$300 a month when the baby is not a Singapore citizen and S$60 when it is. MOM's conditions: you must have a newborn under 4 months, and the nanny must be Malaysian and at least 23 and under 70. Paperbump estimates, not published figures: agencies charge roughly S$2,500 to S$3,500 for a 28-day stay, and a red packet at the start and end is customary. The agency usually handles the form; the good nannies are booked months ahead.
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